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the radiological conditions of the atolls on and around the test
sites, as well as the people who were fallout victims.
In addition,
our comaitments-to insure the safe return of the Bikinians and the
people of Enewetak make it imperative that they and their environment
be attended to with the best testing equipnent available.
It appears that none of the involved Departments has budgeted
SUT
adequately for this needed and highly warranted effort in order to.
meet our statutory and moral commitments to.the people of this area.
This has become increasingly clear through staff level dialogs as
well as the recent unsuccessful effort to perform the best possible
q
.
_ survey on Bikini.
:
To better assess the problems and to determine exactly what remains to
be done and who is responsible for funding and executing all or
various segments of future radiological surveys and monitoring, I feel
that an interagency meeting is essential. I therefore propose that key
personnel from each Department meet at Interior on June 25, at 2:00 PM,
whereupon ERDA can set forth its proposed program along with support
requirements. If agreement on budgeting and support commitments cannot
be reached, we will at least be in a position to present the problem to
the Office of Management and Budget and seek further instructions. I
am asking that this meeting be coordinated by the Director of
Territorial Affairs.
Staff contact can be made through Mr. Harry U.
Brown at 343-4736.
.
,
:
We believe that the United States commitment under the Trusteeship
Agreement requires a strong reaffirmation by all concerned agencies,
to work together in carrying out a comprehensive program, not only for
Bikini or Enewetak, but all other involved areas in the Trust Territory
which were touched bythe 10-year testing program.
»
mo,
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Sincerely yours, -
of
.
Assistant Secretary of ‘the Interior |
wprhpreret
Happs
Hon. Robert C. Seamans, Jr.
Administrator
Energy Research and Development
’ Administration
Washington, D.C. 20545
-
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;
Enclosure
"NOTE:
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SINILAR LETTER SENT TO SECRETARY OF DEFENSE |
-JVAMES R- SCHLESINGER.
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